Preschool Surprise Bins + What I Love to Include

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I just wrapped up my first year homeschooling preschool using My Father’s World All Aboard the Animal Train. We absolutely loved this curriculum (you can read about it here!), and my preschooler learned a lot.

One of his favorite activities was the preschool surprise bins that became a daily part of our routine.

This is such a simple idea to incorporate into your preschool homeschooling, whether or not you are using My Father’s World curriculum.

It’s also a great idea to keep in your toolbox for keeping younger kids occupied while you are homeschooling older children!

I shared a reel on Facebook the other day showing how we used our preschool surprise bins. Take a look below:

Then, I got a few questions in my inbox asking about other ideas and homeschool preschool activities we used in our bins throughout the year! I realized it might be helpful to organize some ideas into a post to share with you.

What are Preschool Surprise Bins?

As you saw in the video, at the beginning of the year I purchased 5 white tubs and labeled them with the numbers 1-5.

I had two plastic sandwich bags near them with the numbers 1-5 as well. One bag I labeled “picked” (this is where the numbers would go once he picked them that week, and then we would start over).

Each day, my son would choose a number from the bag, say what the number was, and match it to the bin with the same number. Then we would take out the bin and see what the surprise was inside!

Some days, this would occupy him for 10-15 minutes, other days (and depending on the toy)…up to an hour!

What Should I Include in Preschool Surprise Bins?

I would rotate out surprises in the bins every week, but I would only maybe change one bin at a time. I wouldn’t typically change all 5 at once! Typically, if there was something he didn’t really love, that would go first. And, I would re-use/rotate back in items he did enjoy.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Duplo or Lego
• Puzzles or Matching Games
• Lacing Toys (these printable shoe lacing cards are also a great option!)
• Musical Instruments
• Stacking cups or blocks
• Sorting toys
• Math manipulatives (think math cubes)
• Dolls or action figures
• Crayons or Washable Markers
• Cut and paste activities for preschoolers
• Non-toxic watercolor paints that are safe for babies and preschoolers
• Sensory bin items
• Magnatiles (check out these free magnatile ideas to go with this toy)

The curriculum actually recommended to make at least one of the bins a sensory bin each week. We did do this, but not every week. There are a lot of ideas online for sensory bins, or you can purchase pre-made ones.

Don’t feel like you have to buy a ton of new things for these bins! I ended up purchasing a few things you’ll find in the list below because we didn’t have many “preschool” toys at the time. And, if I knew it was an item that would be helpful throughout the next couple of years as we went through preschool and kindergarten, I was more likely to get it.

But you probably have many things around the house you could use for your surprise bins. If you have toys your little one hasn’t played with in a while, or something you’ve stored away, this might be a great opportunity to pull it out again. Even something like this free printable escape room for young kids would be a fun addition!

Start an Amazon wish list of ideas…this can make a great gift list as well to give to friends and family come birthday or Christmas time.

Items From My Video

Here are links to the items you specifically saw in my video above.

Counting Bears with Sorting Cups

These are great for preschoolers because they provide a hands-on learning experience. Preschoolers can practice counting and sorting skills while engaging their fine motor skills by manipulating the colorful bear counters. The sorting cups also offer opportunities for color recognition and pattern recognition, enhancing cognitive development in a fun and interactive way.

Wooden Building Blocks

Your preschooler can build and stack structures while exploring different shapes and colors, fostering spatial awareness and visual perception. The tactile nature of wooden blocks also promotes sensory development and fine motor skills as children grasp, stack, and manipulate the blocks. My son also loved seeing what new colors formed when blocks were stacked!

Monkey Foam

Monkey foam provides a sensory play experience that engages multiple senses. Its soft and squishy texture allows children to squeeze, mold, and shape the foam, promoting fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Additionally, monkey foam is non-toxic and easy to clean, making it a safe and convenient option for young children to explore and express their creativity.

Dinosaur Stacking Toys

These were actually pretty tough to balance! The act of stacking the pieces enhances hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and spatial awareness in a fun and interactive way.

Dot Markers

Probably one of my son’s favorites, and I really loved the activity books that came with this! Dot markers are great for preschoolers because they promote creativity and fine motor skill development. And seems silly, but the act of pressing the marker onto the paper helps strengthen hand muscles and refine hand-eye coordination. Additionally, dot markers are pretty mess-free (as long as they keep them on the paper!) and easy to use, making them a convenient choice for young children to explore the world of art.

Other Great Ideas for Preschool Surprise Bins

Here are some other ideas for items you can buy for your preschool surprise bins. Some of these I used, some were just on my wish list!

Even if you are able to add one “new” item each month, it would be a really fun surprise for your preschooler.

Pre-made Sensory Bins

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There are so many benefits of sensory play! Sensory bins provide a multi-sensory learning experience. Preschoolers can engage their senses of touch, sight, and sometimes even hearing and smell, as they explore and manipulate different materials in the bin. Sensory bins offer opportunities for sensory exploration, vocabulary development, and imaginative play in a stimulating and hands-on way.

Shapes Sorting & Matching Box

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These are great for preschoolers because they support the development of shape recognition and problem-solving skills. Preschoolers can engage in sorting and matching activities by identifying and placing the correct shapes into their corresponding boxes, promoting cognitive development and spatial reasoning.

Magnetic Blocks

Magnetic blocks offer a unique and engaging building experience. The magnetic feature allows the blocks to easily connect and stick together, enabling preschoolers to construct various structures and designs with ease. This promotes creativity, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills. Additionally, the magnetic blocks provide a satisfying sensory experience as children feel the magnetic attraction and explore the different ways the blocks can connect, stimulating their tactile and proprioceptive senses.

STEM Building Blocks

STEM building blocks introduce fundamental concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a hands-on and playful manner. These blocks often come with connectors, gears, or other components that allow children to create moving structures, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By engaging with STEM building blocks, preschoolers develop spatial awareness, logical reasoning, and creativity while gaining an early exposure to foundational STEM principles. The open-ended nature of the blocks also encourages exploration and experimentation, fostering a love for learning and discovery.

Wooden Letter & Number Construction Set

This fun set combines literacy and numeracy development with hands-on play. Preschoolers can explore and manipulate the wooden letters and numbers, practicing letter and number recognition as they construct words, sentences, and simple math equations. This set promotes fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development while fostering early literacy and numeracy skills. The tactile nature of the wooden pieces also enhances sensory engagement and provides a tangible learning experience for young learners.

Wooden Tool Set

A wooden tool set is a great option for your preschool surprise bins as it promotes imaginative play, fine motor skill development, and problem-solving abilities. Preschoolers can engage in role-playing scenarios as little builders or repairers, using the wooden tools to imitate real-life activities. This enhances their creativity and social skills. Additionally, manipulating the tools, such as screwing or hammering, helps strengthen hand muscles and hand-eye coordination, fostering their fine motor skills. The set also encourages problem-solving as children figure out how different tools can be used and interact with various materials.

Pattern Blocks & Boards

Another one of my preschooler’s favorite! Pattern Blocks & Boards facilitate pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and fine motor skill development. Preschoolers can explore and create various patterns using the colorful geometric shapes, promoting cognitive skills and logical thinking. By fitting the blocks onto the corresponding boards, children strengthen their hand-eye coordination and refine their fine motor skills. This activity also encourages creativity and problem-solving as children experiment with different combinations and arrangements of the blocks to complete the patterns.

Flower Garden Toys

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Preschoolers can engage in imaginative play by planting and arranging colorful flowers in this toy garden. This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skill development, and sensory exploration. It also introduces children to the concept of nurturing and caring for plants, fostering an appreciation for nature and the environment.

Number Puzzles

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Self-correcting number puzzles are great for preschoolers as they support the development of numeracy skills, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking. Preschoolers can engage with number puzzles by arranging the pieces in the correct numerical order, promoting number recognition and sequencing. This activity helps them develop a foundation for counting and basic math concepts. Additionally, number puzzles encourage logical reasoning and spatial awareness as children analyze the puzzle pieces and determine their correct placement. It also fosters fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they manipulate and manipulate the puzzle pieces.

Lacing Sets

Lacing sets enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development. Preschoolers can practice threading strings or laces through the holes of various shapes, cards, or boards, promoting dexterity and finger control. This activity also helps improve hand-eye coordination as children aim to lace through specific targets. Furthermore, lacing sets encourage concentration, patience, and problem-solving as children figure out the correct sequence and patterns to follow while lacing. They can also explore color recognition, shape identification, and patterning through the different elements included in the sets.

Button Art

Button art sets combine creativity, fine motor skills, and color recognition. Preschoolers can engage in creating colorful designs and pictures by attaching buttons to a base or template. This activity promotes hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and the development of fine motor skills as children manipulate and handle the buttons. Additionally, button art encourages color recognition and sorting as children select and place buttons of various colors in specific areas of their artwork. It provides a fun and tactile experience that fosters artistic expression and enhances cognitive abilities.

Scissor Skills

Scissor skills booklets help develop cutting skills and hand-eye coordination. Preschoolers can practice cutting along the lines or shapes in the booklets, improving their fine motor skills and control over scissors. This activity also promotes concentration, patience, and focus as children follow the guidelines and try to cut accurately. Scissor skills booklets provide a structured and engaging way for preschoolers to build confidence in using scissors while enhancing their creativity and cognitive abilities.

Busy Book

A busy book offers a compact and interactive collection of activities that promote various skills. Busy books often feature activities related to colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and everyday life scenarios, providing opportunities for cognitive development, language skills, and imaginative play.

Play-Doh Tools

Play-Doh tools encourage creativity, sensory exploration, and fine motor skill development. Preschoolers can use the various tools, such as rollers, cutters, and extruders, to shape, mold, and manipulate Play-Doh into different forms and designs. This activity promotes imaginative play and self-expression while allowing children to experiment with textures and colors. Additionally, using Play-Doh tools enhances hand strength, finger dexterity, and hand-eye coordination as children engage in the sensory and tactile experience of working with the malleable dough.

Water Doodle Mat

A water doodle mat provides a mess-free and reusable way for them to explore creativity and fine motor skills. Preschoolers can use the special water-filled pen or brush to draw, doodle, and create colorful designs on the mat’s surface. As the water touches the mat, it reveals vibrant colors, stimulating visual engagement and artistic expression. This activity promotes hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and imagination while keeping the mess contained. The water evaporates, resetting the mat for endless drawing and doodling fun.

Pom Pom Pictures

My son really loved this activity as well. This activity promotes hand-eye coordination as children carefully place the pom poms and develop their fine motor skills while picking them up. Additionally, working with the soft and tactile pom poms provides a sensory experience that enhances engagement and creativity. Pom pom pictures also allow for color recognition, pattern making, and imaginative play as children arrange the pom poms to create various designs and scenes.

Washable Markers

Washable markers are a no-brainer! They offer a safe and convenient way for preschoolers to engage in artistic expression and develop fine motor skills. Preschoolers can use washable markers to draw, color, and create artwork on paper or other suitable surfaces. The markers are designed to be easily washable, making cleanup hassle-free and minimizing the risk of staining. This activity encourages creativity, hand-eye coordination, and precision as children manipulate the markers to bring their ideas to life. Washable markers also provide an opportunity for color exploration, language development, and storytelling as children communicate and describe their artwork.

Learn More About the Homeschool Preschool Curriculum We Used

Do you want to learn more about My Father’s World All Aboard the Animal Train? Watch my video below where I share all about how we used it in our homeschool this year!

(And after All Aboard the Animal Train, we moved on to Voyage of Discovery! Take a peek at a day in the life of one our lessons here).

I hope this post gave you some great ideas for what to include in your preschool surprise bins.

Do you have any great ideas that I missed? Drop a comment below to let us know!

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